{"id":24008,"date":"2019-04-02T11:50:36","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T03:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=24008"},"modified":"2022-06-13T17:06:26","modified_gmt":"2022-06-13T09:06:26","slug":"5-reasons-to-avoid-unofficial-rental-arrangements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/5-reasons-to-avoid-unofficial-rental-arrangements\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons to Avoid “Unofficial” Rental Arrangements"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Despite deterrence efforts, there will always be some landlords and tenants in “unofficial” rental arrangements. It may be done to avoid\u00a0 taxes; other times, landlords don’t know how to do the paperwork, but also don’t want to pay a property agent to handle it. Here’s why you don’t want to be involved:<\/p>\n

Some examples of “unofficial” rental arrangements<\/h3>\n

The most common example of this is a landlord renting out with “no questions asked”. That is, the landlord agrees not to bother checking the tenant’s papers, so long as the tenant provides a good deal (e.g. two years of rent paid upfront, or a higher than usual rental income).<\/p>\n

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Without a Tenancy Agreement, there’s nothing to protect you as a tenant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another example is having a family member stay in the property, and then listing the property as “owner occupied” to lower property taxes. In the meantime, the family member either (1) doesn’t actually stay there, or (2) manages tenants who haven’t been declared to the authorities.<\/p>\n

Yet another recent issue is short term rentals that are less than six months. There is a prior collaboration with the landlord, that you will “break the lease and disappear” after two or three months, without consequence.<\/p>\n

(There are also more blatant criminal offences, like landlords allowing the property to be used as a brothel for a cut of the profits, or a gambling den – but we’ll assume you’re not falling into this category!)<\/p>\n

The dangers of being an unofficial tenant<\/h3>\n

Whether its out of desperation, or a misguised attempt to save money, being an unofficial tenant is more hazardous than you imagine. Some of the key threats are:<\/p>\n